Leave No Trace: the argument AGAINST it

Ummm, don't poop near water!! As long as you're a reasonable distance away by the time it seeps through the ground to get to any water it will be so filtered down into nutrients that there will be no problem.

Perspective: For several years I post and read (a little) in some of the largest online backpacking forums. In threads like these which I saw only a minority say they carry out their poop, except in extraordinary circumstances. Just like here. However I'm sure I have seen only a tiny sample of the many threads there must be on this subject.

Yeah. Um, DON'T "pinch a loaf anywhere you want," thanks. I don't want your loaf floating in my drinking source, or planted in the middle of the trail for me to step on. I know that's probably not quite what you intended to say, but as previosly mentioned, common sense isn't all that common.

Don't bury your poop!!! If in a truely wild place poop where the sun will shine on it and the bugs will play in it. Just don't poop where I'll step in it. Digging holes should be left for the moles and other little guys. Yea, if there is an established fire place or ring you can burn down your trash, but I never start a new fire place. I usually end up packing out not only my trash but other junk I find along the way (except artifact trash, of course).

It's because the Colorado river moves such a high volume of water that by the time you finish, millions of gallons have flowed by, effectively diluting it. And because if everyone peed on the beach, it would really throw off the chemical balance in the area.

Bears (grizzly bears) are attracted to your poop... you should bury it at least eight inches deep, as soon as possible. Burning your poop will only put the scent into the air and attract grizzlies. Be safe, bury it and pack out all items brought in.... you may save yourself from an encounter with a bear or save another camper/hiker. Which brings up another point, always carry bear spray or at least mace.

For all those who say "the bears and deer do it, so can I," bears and dears don't eat processed food. the food that they eat makes their feces good for the environment. the food that we eat is ridiculously bad for the environment once our bodies have processed it.(http://aem.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/64/9/3336) You dont eat anything except what you pick of the plants and kill yourself? fine. you're the animal exception. for the rest of us that eat protein bars or coffee, pack it out.

I'm just curious, but if you pack your poop, where the hell do you think it is going to end up? My guess is probably some sort of landfill. So you can either dig a hole and bury it. Then burn the tp or get the kind of tp that is biodegradable and leave no trace or you can have your double plastic bag full of gel and poop continuing to add to our landfill refuse. Doesn't seem like a hard decision as to which option would be more environmentally friendly.